The 32-Hour Rule: Myth or Fact? Plus, Med Schools that Use It

The 32-hour rule for medical school admissions is a policy used by some admissions committees that focuses on an applicant’s most recent credit hours of coursework instead of their entire undergraduate GPA.

The goal of using the most recent credit hours is to let applicants with low early undergrad grades show an upward GPA trend, highlighting improvement that may suggest overall GPA doesn't tell the whole story.

It’s also a good way for AdComs to assess a student’s performance during a post-bacc program, as many medical school applicants use a post-bacc during gap years to strengthen their application. Each student’s post-baccalaureate courseload is unique to their situation, but 32 hours is a decent average of the number of credits many students complete during this type of program.

Some notable medical programs, such as Wayne State, LSU, Boston University, and Michigan State, have been said to follow this rule. But before you rush off to review your final couple of semesters of grades, you should know that not all — or even most — medical schools use the so-called 32-hour rule.

Let’s get into the specifics, including how to improve your application if you’re concerned about your overall GPA.

Related: The Medical School Application Process Explained 

Which Medical Schools Use the 32-Hour Rule?

Each school known or said to use this rule has different standards for how it works. In fact, no medical program that I know of has published information stating they use the number “32” at all.

There are likely schools not on this list that use a similar standard, but these are the medical programs cited as using the 32-hour rule (or some variation of it):

*An asterisk denotes programs that are widely believed to use some variation of the 32-hour rule but do not publish information about this publicly. 

Get the Most from the 32-Hour Rule

Although many schools don’t say publicly that they use this rule, it’s true that an upward trend in your undergraduate performance can bode well for your future.

To take advantage of this, make sure you’re putting your utmost effort into your last few undergraduate semesters, especially in science classes. A strong finish in college may make up for a poor start (or at least will mitigate some of the damage).

If your undergraduate GPA didn’t show improvement and/or you haven’t taken the pre-requisite courses to apply to medical school, consider enrolling in a post-bacc program. This can be a good way to prove to admissions committees that you have what it takes to succeed in medical school, regardless of past performance. 

Want to know how you stack up against the competition? Use our FREE Medical School Chance Predictor to discover your chances of getting into your preferred school.

Is Your GPA Competitive?

A broadly competitive GPA for medical school applications is a science GPA of 3.6 or higher and an overall GPA of 3.7 or higher. The exact stats will differ based on the schools where you plan to apply and the rest of your application, but these numbers are a good baseline.

If your cumulative GPA falls below those averages but your final 2-3 semesters' worth of credit hours are significantly higher (3.8+), the upward trend may encourage AdComs to give your application a second look if they follow the 32-hour rule (formally or informally).

Read Next: How Hard Is It to Get Into Medical School? 

What to Do if Your GPA Is Lower Than Desired

There are several ways to strengthen your application if your sights are set on getting a medical education, but your GPA isn’t as high as you’d like:

• Apply to programs with lower average GPAs for matriculants. The MD program you have set as your “first choice” might be a long shot with a lower GPA, but many DO programs accept students with GPAs that are multiple points lower. You may need to reconsider the schools on your list to better fit your personal stats. It’s also a good idea to prioritize schools that use a “holistic review process,” which typically means your full application will be considered and not rejected for a single low statistic.
• If it makes sense, address your GPA in your personal statement. The personal statement is not typically the place to review your grades, but if you have a compelling reason why they weren’t great starting out, consider using this as inspiration for your essay. For instance, if you lost a parent in your first year of undergrad, your story of overcoming adversity to improve significantly may work as a strength, rather than a negative, in your overall application.
• Get letters of recommendation that speak to your growth over the previous 1-2 years of undergrad. LoRs are an important part of your primary applications, and this is doubly important if you need to make a case for a lower GPA. Ask professors who have seen you improve significantly to write a letter for you, and make sure to mention this improvement as a major point to cover in the letter (if they’re willing).
• Use gap years to improve other parts of your application. It’s now the norm for most pre-medical students to take 1-3 gap years before applying to a medical program. Consider using your gap year to expand your research experience, explore personal interests to support personal growth, or beef up your clinical experience with more patient care. Good extracurriculars can set you apart from other applicants.
• Retake the MCAT if you can improve your score significantly. A lower GPA is less noticeable next to a higher-than-average MCAT score. Work with a tutor and improve your MCAT score by 8-12 points to show competency in the foundational skills you need for medical school.
• Complete a post-baccalaureate. Post-bacc programs are great for students who need to increase their average GPA, retake the MCAT, or complete additional prerequisites (e.g., more science courses for a non-science major). These programs are typically structured to offer an additional 12-48 credit hours beyond your Bachelor’s degree.
• Complete a graduate program. Depending on your career goals, a Master’s Degree program or similar may improve your chances of getting into medical school. A high GPA in a graduate program may outweigh a lower GPA in undergrad. Certain programs, such as Tulane’s Pharmacology MS program, are designed with this 32-hour amount of time in mind to prepare students for their med school application cycle. 

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Unique Strengths of Nontraditional Applicants

As medical schools commit to developing a diverse student body, many programs are more likely to favor applicants who stand out — including non-trads.

Nontraditional students are considered those who are over 26, didn’t choose a traditional pre-med major (like organic chemistry or biochemistry), have a family, or have already spent time in a different career. 

Many non-trads may have started college with very different plans in mind or decided to pursue becoming a doctor years after completing their undergraduate degree. In some cases, this means that an undergraduate GPA is a less impactful metric used by admissions committees to review their applications. This may also help strengthen the case for an applicant with a lower GPA who showed significant improvement in their final 2-3 semesters.

However, even non-traditional applicants must complete a reasonable number of extracurricular and shadowing hours, score competitively on the MCAT, and go through the same application process as anyone else.

Read Next: Social Media Strategies to Boost Your Med School Chances

Don’t Bet It All on 32 Hours

Ultimately, medical school admissions is competitive — as it should be! If you’re not sure your application is strong enough to stand out among other applicants, get application consulting with the pros to give you every chance of success. 

Students who work with MedSchoolCoach are 2x more likely than the average med school applicant to be accepted. Find out how we can take your application to the next level!